Jonathan Tropper has developed his second series for Apple TV+, this time starring Jon Hamm in Your Friends & Neighbors. The ten-episode series is set to debut on the streaming platform on April 11. Hamm plays a hedge fund manager who becomes unemployed and deviates into criminal activity to maintain his and his family’s lifestyle. Your Friends & Neighbors boasts a star-studded cast alongside Hamm with Olivia Munn, Amanda Peet, and Aimee Carrero.
Your Friends & Neighbors Review
Andrew Cooper gets fired from his high-end hedge fund manager job in a disgraceful way. Although Coop fights for his job, the company doesn’t budge, and now with his back against the wall, and unwillingness to tell the truth, Coop begins stealing from his rich neighbors to keep his lifestyle and continue to pay for his now ex-wife and kids lifestyle. As Coop gets deeper and deeper into his criminal activity, he discovers secrets and hidden affairs behind all the wealthy people around them.
Jonathan Tropper had a tough job selling the idea of feeling “empathetic” for a rich guy losing his job and now stealing from his rich friends. Early on, I wasn’t buying what Tropper was selling because, no matter how hard they tried, Coop wasn’t exactly likable (even with Jon Hamm playing him). However, the tides turn when we are introduced to Elena, one of the housekeeping people who catches Coop in the act.
Now, I won’t say that my opinion of Coop ultimately changed throughout the seven episodes I watched, but having Elena around helped carry the weight of the latter part of Your Friends & Neighbors. Elena Benavides is played by Aimee Carrero, and she is the absolute shining star of the show. Carrero brought depth to Coop’s character as we unpacked many of the secrets of the rest of the crew in Westmont Village. Elena’s story brought the empathetic nature of it all together, and Carrero delivered it.
Jon Hamm is a face that everyone loves to see on the screen, whether that be in a movie or a TV show. He adds something that very few people are capable of doing. Hamm’s turn as Don Draper is still considered one of the greatest TV characters/performances of all time. With his experience, Hamm knows how to elevate his character, bringing something special from the page to the screen.
Coop isn’t someone you like, and maybe even supposed to like, and that is fine. The writing doesn’t always help his character per se, but Hamm elevates those around him and commits to Coop’s sarcastic and witty banter. There is a playful characteristic within Coop that Hamm seemed to be “hamming” it up and enjoying himself.
With Apple TV dropping the first two episodes together, it allows the show to overcome a somewhat slow first episode and allow audiences to grasp what is ahead in episode two. Outside of Coop, they do an outstanding job of incorporating the characters to balance the drama while effectively delivering hilarious wit and comedy. The balance is a breath of fresh air because they didn’t rely too heavily on the drama, allowing those comedic moments to land perfectly.
Whoever is greenlighting shows at Apple TV+ deserves a raise because time and time again they are knocking it out of the park. Other streaming platforms need to take a page out of their book with the weekly format, along with the quality we are getting from them. I hope everyone watches this one because a second season would be a lot of fun.
Is Your Friends & Neighbors Worth Watching?
Your Friends & Neighbors is a sharply written thriller that weaves in and out of this hectic world of one man trying to save face. While the show takes a moment or two to get going, once we are fully submerged in Westmont Village, it takes off and never looks back. The cast is strong, led by a fun performance from Jon Hamm, but Aimee Carrero steals the show with her delightful turn as Elena. Apple TV+ has another winner on its hands and one that I hope we get a second season.
The first seven episodes were screened for critics. You can stream Your Friends & Neighbors only on Apple+ starting April 11th!
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